#Turkey2017: Cappadocia (Green Tour + Night Bus to Pamukkale)

Cappadocia (which means Land of the Beautiful Horses), or Nevşehir, was one of the most important places in the spreading periods of the Christian religion. The first Christians trying to escape from the Roman soldiers who wanted to avoid the spreading of the Christian religion have settled in the region of Cappadocia which was so suitable for hiding and so they were able to continue their natures and to spread their religions. http://www.cappadociaturkey.net/

Throughout biblical and world history, Cappadocia had been under 3 major empires: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk (Ottoman Empire). This has been the driving force on why I wanted to visit the region even if I started out knowing only Constantinopole from our highschool textbooks.

Since we were pressed for time, we were only able to take only 1 tour which Mr. Ali (The Cappadocia Hotel) reserved for us for 140 TL/ person.

The tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, with the below sights and lunch at Belisirma. Most of the people we're with are Turkish locals who live abroad (as per Ahmed, our Drew Arellano-lookalike tour guide) and 2 Brazilian backpackers.

Ahmed, on the start of the tour, said that 2017 was really a good year for tourism. Back in 2016 when all the attacks happened at Ataturk airport and at a nightclub, even the locals were afraid of going out but gradually, everything has improved this year for which they were very thankful.

Inshallah, everything will turn out all right, and praying for Egypt as well for the brutal attacks that happened earlier today.

GREEN TOUR:

• Goreme Panorama
• Derinkuyu Underground City
• Ihlara Valley
• Belisirma Lunch
• Yaprakhisar
• Selime Monastery
• Pigeon Valley
• Onyx Demonstration
• Return back to Hotel (or in our case, Goreme bus station)

Turkish tea! Yum!

My battery died after the lunch at Belisirma Restaurant :'( so I'll leave you with a photo of this delish Turkish tea.

After the tour, the bus took us back to the agency where we stowed our luggage. Then, they dropped us off at the Goreme bus station to wait for our 8PM bus to Pamukkale. I'm not really sure on how to book the bus tickets but Mr. Ali offered to buy them for us at 60 TL/person under Nevşehir Seyehat. Originally we were set to depart from Urgup Bus station but as per our tour guide, it's still the same 8PM bus regardless if it's departing from Urgup or Goreme bus station. Just make sure to reserve or book your tickets a day before to have a hassle-free trip.

Taking the bus was similar to UAE intercity buses, only with stopovers. Going to Pamukkale was like 8-10 hours so there were 2 food and WC stops along the way.

The bus stopped at Denizli bus station but there was a shuttle going to Pamukkale that was waiting for us at no extra charge. From there, Mr. Halim picked us up and brought us to the hotel, along with 6 other backpacking tourists (puro bagets! spell #UCB).

Kapoy much bes but it was totally worth it, even the asthma-inducing hike to Selime Monastery (rumored backdrop of a Star Wars movie). For Derinkuyu Underground City, it was overwhelming to be in a place with so much religious history as it is claustrophobic because of all the tourists squeezing in there all at the same time - but so proud to say that I survived being in a cave! I thought I can't just thinking about Sagada but after this I was like yes!!! Bucketlist! Survivor!

Chos.

So much has happened and it's only Day 2!